The Cheaters (1945 film)

The Cheaters 1945 also known as MR. M. and the Pigeons, The Amazing MR. M., The Magnificent Mr. M. and The Magnificent Rogue is a Christmas screwball comedy tale about a hasbeen actor invited to Christmas dinner by a rich family. The film was atypical of the Republic Pictures studio, directed by Joseph Kane and stars Joseph Schildkraut, Billie Burke and Eugene Pallette. The film was rereleased in 1949 under a new title, The Castaway, and when the Republic film catalogue was sold in the 1950s as late night television fodder, it appeared consistently for years as a Christmas staple throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

Marchaund and Willie Crawford Raymond Walburn, J. C.s freeloading brotherinlaw, have little trouble locating Florie. Willie tells her that they are cousins, and that the family want her to spend the holidays with them. Florie recognizes Marchaunds name and confides to him, one trouper to another, that she knows she is not related to the Pidgeons, but as she is broke and behind on her rent, she is eager to play along.After the search ends up on the front page of the newspaper, the Pidgeons hastily relocate to an isolated house in the country to keep Florie in the dark. When they arrive, they discover that all of their servants have quit. J. C., having been raised there, refuses to hire new ones, fearing that they may be people he grew up with. The family, with the exception of Angela, pitch in. Soon, even Angela is helping out. ........

Source: Wikipedia